By Ryan Dombal on December 10, 2009 at 11:40 a.m. EST

Photo by Erika Goldring

Venerable country-rocking machine Drive-By Truckers do not know how to stop making heartbreaking and/or life-affirming songs about the South, the undeniable myth of rock'n'roll, and just trying to make it in this world without completely breaking down. Their tenth LP, The Big To-Do, is due March 16 on new label ATO (you know, the label that' was co-founded by Dave Matthews).

According to frontman Patterson Hood, the record is "more rocking than anything weâ€™ve done since disc two of [2001's] Southern Rock Opera." Good news for everyone-- especially the Jack Daniel's-downing guy in the American flag bandanna who I stood next to at that one DBT show (nice guy).

Based on song titles like "This Fucking Job" and "The Fourth Night of My Drinking", this could very well be another winner from one of the more consistent (and prolific) groups out there. Click on for the full tracklist along with a first round of U.S. tour dates, which start at the end of January:

By Tom Breihan on December 9, 2009 at 5:55 p.m. EST

-- Earlier this week, we reported that a rule change from the U.S. Postal Service threatened Chicago producer Steve Albini's annual charity Christmas gift drive. But the Second City's annual benefit for Albini's Letters to Santa program is going ahead as planned, and it's got some impressive indie rock star-power lined up. The Second City That Never Sleeps show, which goes down December 15-16 at the historic Chicago comedy venue, will also feature performances from folks like Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, Bonnie "Prince" Billy, the Mountain Goats, and Robbie Fulks. As usual, there will be an auction to win a private show from Tweedy.

By Ryan Dombal on December 9, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. EST

Originally aired on February 28, Kanye West's edition of "VH1 Storytellers" was magnetic, uncomfortable, and long-winded. Along with a slew of grandiose versions of his hits, there were several emo diatribes that exposed the superstar to a near-startling degree.

By Tom Breihan on December 8, 2009 at 6:25 p.m. EST

-- Improvised solo piano albums: So hot right now. Former GrandaddyfrontmanJason Lytle has recorded his own solo piano album, Merry X-Mas 2009, and he's giving it away for free on his website. Sample song title: "Wild Animals Slowly Approaching the Lovely Country Funeral".

-- On December 11, Danny Tamberelli and Mike Maronna, stars of the beloved Nickelodeon show "The Adventures of Pete & Pete", will reunite at the New Haven, Connecticut club Toad's Place. The occasion: A benefit show for former Miracle Legion frontman and tribute album beneficiary Mark Mulcahy, whose wife recently died. (Mulcahy's band Polaris was responsible for the "Pete and Pete" theme song.) Maronna will play with Jounce, Tamberelli's band, and the bill also features Elvis Perkins, Chris Harford, and Fountains of Wayne's Chris Collingwood.

-- London psychedelic garage band Wolf People has signed to Jagjaguwar. The label will release Tidings, their debut album, on February 22 in the UK and the very next day in North America. It should be noted that calling your indie rock band "Wolf People" is sort of like being a rapper and naming yourself "Lil Dude". Try harder, wolf bands!

By Ryan Dombal on December 8, 2009 at 3:30 p.m. EST

One of the more "awwwww" stories to come down the P4k news chute this year was Bon Iver leader Justin Vernon's set with his old high school jazz band. On April 19, Vernon teamed up with Eau Claire, Wisconsin's Memorial High's Jazz Ensemble I for a set of jazz standards and Bon Iver tunes. Proceeds from the show went towards a band trip to New York for the "Essentially Ellington" competition at Lincoln Center (where they ranked third).

Now there's an official release of the live show, dubbed A Decade With Duke, the Eau Claire, Wisconsin publication Volume One reports. The disc is available to purchase in physical form only in Eau Claire, at Brickhouse Music, Morgan Music, and the Volume One office now. Those not in the area can currently purchase it at their digital retailer of choice, too.

By Tom Breihan on December 8, 2009 at 2:15 p.m. EST

Reclusive Neutral Milk Hotel leader Jeff Mangum hasn't released any new music in forever, so any news of a new Mangum track is a big deal. In July, we reported that Mangum would show up on Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox, a tribute album dedicated to New Zealand indie forefather and stroke survivorChris Knox. But when the tracklist for the New Zealand release of Stroke: Songs for Chris Knoxcame out last month, Mangum wasn't on it.

Well, good news: Mangum is on the U.S. version of the album, which is out now digitally via Merge. (Physical copies are due February 23.)Â Mangum covers "Sign the Dotted Line", a song by Knox's band Tall Dwarfs.

The album also features folks like Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Yo La Tengo, the Mountain Goats, Stephin Merritt, Bill Callahan, A.C. Newman, Jay Reatard, and many of Knox's New Zealand contemporaries. You can hear samples of many of the tracks from Stroke, along with their originals, over on Chris Knox's website. The Mangum track isn't on there, though. To hear a sample of that one, head to the Merge digital store.